| THE DISAPPEARANCE OF DAD TEXT: Psalm 127:1-5 "Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain. It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep. Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward. As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth. Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate." The first formal "Father's Day" was celebrated on this day, June 19, 1910. It began in Spokane, Washington, when a woman named Sonora Louise Smart Dodd heard a Mother's Day sermon at church. She wanted to honor her father, who had raised all six children by himself after his wife died. Sonora drew up a petition, which was immediately supported by the Young Men's Christian Association and the ministers of Spokane. In 1972, President Richard M. Nixon established Father's Day as a permanent national observance of on the third Sunday of June. An op-ed piece in the Wall Street Journal caught my eye this week: “Earlier today, we dropped our daughter off at college. Like her brother before her, she went and grew up on us. And as I write, I’m feeling downright valedictory, even rueful about the passing of the Dad years. Sure, I've still got a role as their father. But it's just a bit-part now and, worse, doesn't include all the best stewardship stuff - sandwich-making, cleat-buying, locking the door behind them each night when they come home. Clearly, an era has ended. And as usual, whenever a buzzer sounds, the competitor within wants a score. How'd I do? whispers the bottom-line lobe of my brain. Normally, I'm not much for self-criticism. I'm from the school of Reggie Jackson, who, when asked to describe his shortcomings, once confessed that yeah, okay, he probably did care too much. But somehow, my kids' leave-taking has cracked open my shell. Suddenly, I can see some areas of Daddy weakness. Now, don't mistake me. My kids are lucky to have me. After all, there were no sirens or flashing lights in their childhood. Nor am I enjoined from crossing state lines. I hereby re-state my official position: they could have done worse in the father sweepstakes. Still, looking back, it's clear that they might have done better, too. If I could turn back time, here are some things I would have done differently, more or less. 1. I Would Have Packed the Car More Often. 2. I Would Have Tried To Spin Things Less. 3. I Would Have Raised My Voice Less. 4. I Would Have Put Up the Hoop Sooner. 5. I Would Have Hung Around More at Bedtime. 6. I Would Have Bought More Hamsters. 7. I Would Have Invested The First Five Minutes More. 8. I Would Have Been More Patient With Fantasy. 9. I Would Have Touched Them More. 10. I Would Have Been Alone With Each of My Kids More Often. WHAT IS WRONG WITH AMERICA’S FATHER'S? First of all, I must recognize the millions of Godly fathers who are doing it right. I am looking at many of them in this church sanctuary. But, we must honestly acknowledge that America has a major 21st century problem with fathers. (1) Many Fathers Are Invisible. About 30% of all white children born this year in America are born out of wedlock. About 70% of all black children are born out of wedlock. A few of these fathers get involved in the lives of their children, usually from a distance. But, the overwhelming majority do not. They just move on to impregnate another woman to whom they are not married and for whom they have no responsibility. (2) Many Fathers Abandon Their Children. We have a 50% divorce rate in this country. A larger number of such fathers do assume responsibility for their children. While money and limited time with the children are certainly helpful, this does not make up for not being a full-time father in the home. Unfortunately, there are multitudes of dead-beat dads who simply walk away from their children as though they did not exist. (3) Many Fathers Rob Their Children. Bible reading, prayer, and spiritual mentoring are often not practiced by fathers in the homes. Dr. Michael Newdow is such an example. Dr. Newdow is the atheist who brought the court challenge regarding the words “under God” in the Pledge of Allegiance to our flag. He claimed this offended his daughter and himself. The Court ruled he had no legal standing to bring the lawsuit since he did not have custody to the little girl. It also turned out that the little girl and her mother are believers and are anot offended by the pledge. Newdow is just another Christ-hater who, like the ACLU and AU, want all religion thrown out of the public square in America. Michael Newdow, asked this question: "Why should I be made to feel like an outsider?" Earlier, the Court of Appeals in San Francisco had agreed that the words "under God" sent "a message to unbelievers that they are outsiders, not full members of the political community." Although the Supreme Court did not address the question directly, Mr. Newdow got it right: Atheists are "outsiders" in the American community. Americans are one of the most religious people in the world, particularly compared with the peoples of other highly industrialized democracies. But they nonetheless tolerate and respect the rights of atheists and nonbelievers. Unbelievers do not have to recite the pledge, or engage in any religiously tainted practice of which they disapprove. They also, however, do not have the right to impose their atheism on all those Americans whose beliefs now and historically have defined America as a Christian nation. Statistics prove America is not only a religious nation but also a Christian one. Up to 85% of Americans identify themselves as Christians. THE REAPPEARANCE OF DADS CAN BRING REVIVAL TO AMERICA. (1) Godly fathers teach their children how to love by openly loving their mother. (2) Godly fathers produce godly children by having a personal and intimate relationship with their children. (3) Godly fathers build self worth in their children. (4) Godly fathers encourage vision, hope and purity in their children. (5) Godly fathers guarantee perpetual endowment. Their children believe he will never desert them or their mother. THE ULTIMATE EXAMPLE OF IDEAL FATHERHOOD: (1) The Heavenly Father cares for His children. I Peter 5:7 "Casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you." (2) He responds to the needs of His children. Philippians 4:19 "But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus." (3) He forgives His children. I John 1:9 "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (4) He disciplines His children. Proverbs 3:11-12 "My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction: For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth." (5) He comforts His children. Isaiah 49:13 "Sing, O heavens; and be joyful, O earth; and break forth into singing, O mountains: for the LORD hath comforted his people, and will have mercy upon his afflicted." (6) He listens to His children. I John 5:14-15 "And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask anything according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him." |
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